SAM WARBURTON last night dismissed claims by former fly-half Jonathan Davies that Wales are poised to “absolutely smash” the English pack at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Warburton spoke out as Wales reported encouraging news on the injury front ahead of the Triple Crown clash with the old enemy, with his own dead leg responding well to intensive treatment.

Elsewhere in the squad teenage powerhouse George North remains in a medical boot after rolling his ankle against Scotland, but is expected to be ready to resume training next week.

Huw Bennett (calf) and stand-in skipper Ryan Jones (dead leg) are also expected to come through, while flanker Justin Tipuric and Lions hooker Matthew Rees should be available following ankle and calf complaints respectively.

But, despite the prospect of being at full-strength, Warburton laughed off the comments of Davies, insisting nobody in the Welsh camp expects anything other than the sternest of examinations at Headquarters.

And the Blues flanker rejected claims England have effectively been given their team talk by the BBC analyst.

“England know it’s just one pundit’s views, certainly none of our players would ever come out and say that,” he said.

“We look forward to it, it is a game I really cannot wait to play in, but as far as running all over the English pack, I’m not too sure that will ever happen.

“When I’ve played England, I have always woken up the next morning and felt as if my shoulders were hanging off.

“They have always had a very big and very mobile pack. They are always big blokes to bring down and it’s always the same.

“We want to keep the ball in play and work them hard, and hopefully we can then come on strong towards the end of the game.”

Davies set tongues wagging with his remarks after Wales’ win against Scotland on Sunday.

He said: “I don’t think we’ve gone to Twickenham and out-muscled them before, but the side we’ve got now could go to Twickenham and absolutely smash them physically.”

While Davies’ views were provocative, most observers – not to mention the bookmakers – are making Warren Gatland’s men favourites.

But Warburton played down the significance of the tag, saying England had every right to feel aggrieved by it.

He added: “If I was England I’d be quite cheesed off that we are being made favourites because they’ve won two out of two and now have a home game.

“I am sure they will be confident they can get a result.

“It is nice that we’re getting that tag, but as a side we look no further than the next game.

“You never go to Twickenham and face an easy task. This time will be no different.

“I wouldn’t say we’re favourites. We still have a lot of work to do and we haven’t reached our potential yet.

“I was thinking to myself after the game at the weekend Š‘I hope people don’t get carried away now.’

“It’s two games, there are three left and while I can imagine a few Welshmen will come out with some comments, we will not be getting carried away.”

Wales have showed glimpses of the form that catapulted them into the World Cup semi-finals last autumn, but asked if the side are fully back to where they were in New Zealand, Warburton was cautious.

“We will see if we are in the next game,” he said. “We will be really disappointed if we go to Twickenham and don’t win.

“This is only my third campaign and to get the Triple Crown would be brilliant. That is still a very prestigious award to win because that’s what this tournament all started with.

“The team has changed a lot since the Grand Slam of 2008 and for me personally beating England is an incentive.

“We never used to beat them at schools level when I played, and to beat them at senior level last summer felt brilliant.

“To go and do the same in their backyard would be really sweet.”

And Warburton believes Wales will have to utilise their heavyweight back line to full effect at Twickenham if they are to continue their free-scoring style.

“We’ve watched footage of them and defensively they are very good,” said the 23-year-old. “They have a lot of numbers in their line because they don’t commit many to the breakdown.

“So that is something we’re going to have to deal with by getting our attacking game going.

“But we’re optimistic we’ll have a full squad to select from, it would be great to be at full strength.

“Our big back line is definitely a weapon, and they are all fairly quick as well.

“It must be difficult to trying to manage big forwards and big backs. You have a couple of waves of forwards running at you then someone like George North or Jamie Roberts running a hard line.